Using Nave's Bible Guide - A Kabbalist walks into a bar, and the
Using Nave's Bible Guide - A Kabbalist walks into a bar, and the
Using Nave's Bible Guide - A Kabbalist walks into a bar, and the
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Methods of <strong>Bible</strong> Study<br />
Adapted from Torrey’s Topical Textbook by Rev. R. A. Torrey. 1<br />
Study <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> Daily<br />
First of all make up your mind that you will put some time every day <strong>into</strong> <strong>the</strong> study of <strong>the</strong> Word of God. That is an easy<br />
resolution to make, <strong>and</strong> not a very difficult one to keep; if <strong>the</strong> one who makes it is in earnest. It is one of <strong>the</strong> most fruitful<br />
resolutions that any Christian ever made. The forming of that resolution <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> holding faithfully to it, has been <strong>the</strong><br />
turning point in many a life. Many a life that has been <strong>bar</strong>ren <strong>and</strong> unsatisfactory has become rich <strong>and</strong> useful through <strong>the</strong><br />
introduction <strong>into</strong> it of regular, persevering, daily study of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>. This study may not be very interesting at first, <strong>the</strong><br />
results may not be very encouraging; but, if one will keep pegging away, it will soon begin to count as nothing else has<br />
ever counted in <strong>the</strong> development of character, <strong>and</strong> in <strong>the</strong> enrichment of <strong>the</strong> whole life. Nothing short of absolute physical<br />
inability should be allowed to interfere with this daily study.<br />
It is impossible to make a rule that will apply to everyone as to <strong>the</strong> amount of time that shall be given each day to <strong>the</strong><br />
study of <strong>the</strong> Word. I know many busy people, including not a few laboring men <strong>and</strong> women, who give an hour a day to<br />
<strong>Bible</strong> study, but if one cannot give more than fifteen minutes a great deal can be accomplished. Wherever it is possible<br />
<strong>the</strong> time set apart for <strong>the</strong> work should be in <strong>the</strong> daylight hours. The very best time is in <strong>the</strong> early morning hours. If<br />
possible lock yourself in with God alone.<br />
Study <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> Inquisitively<br />
First, make up your mind to study <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>. It is astounding how much heedless reading of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> is done. Men seem<br />
to think that <strong>the</strong>re is some magic power in <strong>the</strong> book, <strong>and</strong> that, if <strong>the</strong>y will but open its pages <strong>and</strong> skim over its words, <strong>the</strong>y<br />
will get good out of it. The <strong>Bible</strong> is good only because of <strong>the</strong> truth that is in it, <strong>and</strong> to see this truth dem<strong>and</strong>s close<br />
attention. A verse must often-times be read <strong>and</strong> re-read <strong>and</strong> read again before <strong>the</strong> wondrous message of love <strong>and</strong> power<br />
that God has put <strong>into</strong> it begins to appear. Words must be turned over <strong>and</strong> over in <strong>the</strong> mind before <strong>the</strong>ir full force <strong>and</strong><br />
beauty takes possession of us. One must look a long time at <strong>the</strong> great masterpieces of art to appreciate <strong>the</strong>ir beauty <strong>and</strong><br />
underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir meaning, <strong>and</strong> so one must look a long time at <strong>the</strong> great verses of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> to appreciate <strong>the</strong>ir beauty<br />
<strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir meaning. When you read a verse in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> ask yourself, What does this verse mean? Then ask:<br />
What does it mean for me? When that is answered ask yourself again: Is that all it means? <strong>and</strong> do not leave it until you<br />
are quite sure that is all it means for <strong>the</strong> present. You may come back at some future time <strong>and</strong> find it means yet a great<br />
deal more. If <strong>the</strong>re are any important words in <strong>the</strong> verse weigh <strong>the</strong>m, look up o<strong>the</strong>r passages where <strong>the</strong>y are used, <strong>and</strong><br />
try to get <strong>the</strong>ir full significance. God pronounces that man blessed who "meditates" on <strong>the</strong> Word of God "day <strong>and</strong> night."<br />
Ps 1:2-3. An indolent skimming over a few verses or many chapters in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> is not meditation, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>re is not much<br />
blessing in it. Jeremiah said: "Thy words were found <strong>and</strong> I did eat <strong>the</strong>m." (Jer 15:16). Nothing is more important in eating<br />
than chewing. If one does not properly chew his food, he is quite as likely to get dyspepsia as nourishment. Don't let<br />
anyone chew your spiritual food for you. Insist on doing it for yourself. Any one can be a student who makes up his mind<br />
to. It is hard at first but it soon becomes easy. I have seen very dull minds become keen by holding <strong>the</strong>m right down to<br />
<strong>the</strong> grindstone.<br />
Study <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> Topically<br />
Study <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> topically. Take up <strong>the</strong> various subjects treated in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>, one by one, <strong>and</strong> go through <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> <strong>and</strong> find<br />
what it has to say on <strong>the</strong>se subjects. It may be important to know what <strong>the</strong> great men have to say on important subjects;<br />
it is far more important to know what God has to say on <strong>the</strong>se subjects. It is important also to know all that God has to<br />
say. A great many people know a part of what God has to say--<strong>and</strong> usually a very small part--<strong>and</strong> so <strong>the</strong>ir ideas are very<br />
imperfect <strong>and</strong> one-sided. If <strong>the</strong>y only knew all God had to say on <strong>the</strong> subject, it would be far better for <strong>the</strong>m <strong>and</strong> for <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
friends. The only way to know all God has to say on any subject is to go through <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> on that subject. To do this it is<br />
not necessary to read every verse in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> from Genesis to Revelation. It would be slow work, if we had to do that on<br />
every subject we took up. This would be necessary were it not for Textbooks <strong>and</strong> Concordances. But in <strong>the</strong>se we have<br />
<strong>the</strong> results of <strong>the</strong> hard work of many minds. Here we have <strong>the</strong> various passages that bear on any subject brought<br />
toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>and</strong> classified for use, so that now we can do in a few hours what would o<strong>the</strong>rwise take months or years. The<br />
topical method of <strong>Bible</strong> study is simplest, most fascinating <strong>and</strong> yields <strong>the</strong> largest immediate results. It is not <strong>the</strong> only<br />
method of <strong>Bible</strong> study, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> one who pursues it exclusively will miss much of <strong>the</strong> blessing God has for him in <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Bible</strong>. But it is a very interesting <strong>and</strong> fruitful method of study. It was Mr. Moody's favorite method. It fills one's mind very<br />
full on any subject studied. Mr. Moody once gave several days to <strong>the</strong> study of "Grace." When he had finished he was so<br />
full of <strong>the</strong> subject that he rushed out on <strong>the</strong> street <strong>and</strong> going up to <strong>the</strong> first man he met he said: "Do you know anything<br />
about Grace?" "Grace who," <strong>the</strong> man asked. "The Grace of God that bringeth salvation." And <strong>the</strong>n Mr. Moody poured out<br />
upon that man <strong>the</strong> rich treasures he had dug out of <strong>the</strong> Word of God. That is <strong>the</strong> way to master any subject <strong>and</strong> get full of<br />
it. Go through <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> <strong>and</strong> see what it has to say on this subject. This is easily done. Take your Textbook <strong>and</strong> turn to <strong>the</strong><br />
subject. Suppose <strong>the</strong> subject you desire to study is "Prayer." Under <strong>the</strong> topic PRAYER will be found a long list of <strong>the</strong><br />
1 A full description <strong>and</strong> illustration of various profitable methods of <strong>Bible</strong> study will be found in Mr. Torrey's book How to Study <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> for Greatest Profit.